Welcome!

In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.

A memorial site has been created to honor the memory of my niece, Lena Ramadan. Please visit http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/lenaramadan/ to see pictures and messages for beautiful Lena.

Please post your message in her memory book and upload your favorite pictures of Lena. It would mean so much to the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Washington Humane Society http://support.washhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=support.

Dr. Walz, Ray’s ear, nose and throat doctor, called with great news…….News that the Pet scan Ray just had revealed that Ray is cancer free!Thanks for all your continued well wishes and prayers. “It works, it really does.”

Below is an update I just emailed out to some friends and family………..I wanted to let you, my loyal blog followers and FB friends, in on Ray’s recovery.

This morning I was out taking a walk with Ray (yes, a walk!). I shot off the photo of him below knowing I would include the photo in today’s long overdue update on Ray’s health. As most of you know last April Ray was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Stage 3, throat cancer.

Our home is at the end of the road.

Following 5 weeks of chemotherapy, Ray completed his 7 weeks of radiation four weeks ago. The last few weeks of his 7 week radiation treatment and the 3 weeks following the end of radiation were the most difficult times over the course of Ray’s Chemo and Radiation Cure Treatments.

Ray is currently doing so much better. Ray tires easily and his body is still actively affected by the still burning radiation inside him (even 4 weeks after his last treatment). The affects of this lingering radiation burning are manifested in a disgusting amount of phlegm and mucous that keeps Ray continuously spitting out all the yucka stuff …. sometimes causing him to gag and to vomit too. The doctors and nurses say it will take another two weeks or so before the body’s protection against the radiation burning stops making all the phlegm and mucous (as its protective device to the burning going on, I believe).

But Ray’s attitude is wonderful. He has learned tons about himself over the last 6 months and is excited to experience his world in a new and better way. He is daily walking and even went out and attended a meeting last night!

Weekday hydration infusion visits have been reduced to two times a week. Ray is now stomach feeding only 3-4 times a day as he tolerates eating through his mouth quite well lately since the mouth burn and sores are gone. His favorite meals are Lipton Noodle Soup, Oatmeal with fruit and Mushroom Barley soup. Tonight he has requested a cheese omelet! Yeah.

Things are looking up in the Jeffers home. I’m personally enjoying Ray’s recovery and his desire to help out with so much around the house. I’ve got my hubby back…..and my life!

Thank you, thank you for all your continued love, concern and support. Ray and I have learned a lot from all of you about how important it is to reach out to those in their time of need, and in what ways. I hope you know how important you are in our lives.

Ray and I thank you for all your well wishes and prayers in the form of cards, gifts, texts, emails, and being of service to us. Your supportive love and concern is the bright spot of our days.

Ray’s health has taken a big u-turn for the better. All the many unexpected medical problems are now under control or gone. Ray is only dealing with throat soreness and overall fatigue from the effects of his radiation…. which by the way is tolerable with the pain patches he wears. Ray has one more radiation visit tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 23rd and then ONLY one more week (5 days) of radiation next week. We’ve been told that Ray will experience the continuing effects of the radiation given Aug. 30th for 8 or 9 days following this last radiation treatment. So, we are hoping from September 8th Ray’s pain will begin to diminish over the next four months.

Ray’s salivary glands on the left side of his throat will not come back. Ray has lost all taste buds at this time but we’ve been told they will come back eventually (in whole or partial).

Driving Ray to infusion hydration today I noticed Ray had packed a little instructional gold swing book in his day bag he always brings with him. This is good. He turned and smiled broadly when I noticed the book and said, “I believe you are experiencing some very hopeful positive beliefs regarding returning to golf again in the near future.”

And in anticipation of Ray coming to the Wednesday night meeting next week, he received an at home hair cut yesterday from our hairdresser and friend Kathleen LaBonte.

In celebration of Ray having had 5 relatively good days, I picked up my camera.
Only 7 more weekdays of radiation before Ray is done with his cancer cure of first 5 weeks of chemo, followed by 7 weeks of radiation.

View from my desk, focused on the heart in the vase from flowers Ray had given me a long time ago.

My sister Ginny today. Ginny and Walid drove to the desert after a quick visit with my brother and sister-in-law in the Pacific Palisades. Ginny just finished up her State Department job in charge of Visas in Mexico. In a month she will be teaching war stratagy and policy at the Graduate Naval Academy back east.

And here is Walid, Ginny’s wonderful husband. For the next month they will be traveling cross country visiting friends, staying at their home located on the Rappahannock River in Virginia for two weeks and then more traveling until Gin has to return to her postion.